US2368915A - Ladder construction - Google Patents

Description

Feb. e, 1945. Q BRA D 2,368,915

I LADDER CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 11, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. OTTQ J. BRANDEL gill 7:2 I I -%7@ Feb. 6, 1945. O J BRANDEL 2,368,915

LADDER CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 11, 1944 2-Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. OTTO J. BRANDEL Patented Feb. 6, 1 945 UNITE-D STATES PATENT OFFICE LADDER GONSTRUGTION- om J.'Brandel, Portland, Oreg. Application January 11, 1944, Serial No. 517,835 Claims. 11. 228-29).

This invention relates to ladders and is particularly adapted to folding A-frame ladders.

The primary object of the invention is to pro'-.

vide a folding ladder of considerable rigidity, a ladder that will support scaifolding and th'elike with safety. I I -A further object of the invention is to provide a hinge that will permit the folding of the ladder within itself, requiring a minimum amount of storage space.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a hinge that will afford great rigidity and that will hold the frame of the ladder in open position without any locking mechanism, at the same time affording great strength.

These and other incidental objects will be apparent in the drawings, specification and claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates my new and improved ladder in operating position.

Figure 2 illustrates the ladder in inoperative and folded position.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the top and hinged portion of the ladder.

Figure 4 illustrates a fragmentary front view of the ladder, partially broken away for convenience of illustration.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary inverted perspective.

illustration of the hinged portion of the ladder.

Figure 6. is a fragmentary and sectional detail illustrating a modified form of construction.

In the drawings:

My new and improved ladder l consists of usual construction of steps 2 and reenforcing rods 3 assembled together between the side frames 4 and 5. Secured to the upper ends of the frames 4 and 5 are hinged members 6. These members may be secured tothe upper ends of the frame 4 and 5 by any suitable means, preferably bolts 1.

The members 6 form part of my invention and have angle portions 8 formed thereon, best illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. These angles are secured to the top step 9 of the ladder by suitable fasteningmeans, as screws or bolts Ill. The supporting or bracing frames I I and l2 of the ladder have hinged members 13 fixed to their upper ends by suitable fastening means, as bolts M.

A spacer [5, preferably a hollow tube, passes through the openings It at the upper end of the ladder frames 4 and 5 and bears against the hinged members 6 and I3 at each of its ends, spacing the' side frames of the ladder apart. A tie rod ll passes through the upper ends of the brace frames H and I2 through the members I 3 spacer bar I 5. The tie rod has a holding nut 20 on one of its ends for tightening the whole assembly together, best illustrated in Figure 4.

Providing a spacer between the hinge members and the side frames of the ladder is one of the 'primaryobjects of my invention. The cinching up of the hinge portions by the tie rods against the spacer bar provides an assembly of rigid construction, not obtained by usin individual self contained hinge members, whichhas been the constructionused before my present construction.

The members l3 have extensions 2| which limit the opening of the ladder in erected position. The extension 2| bears against'the angle 8 at 22, providing a rigid stop for limiting the movement of the bracing supports II and I2. The pivot point of the hinge members 8 and I3 are located midway the width of the ladder frames, permitting the braces and [2 to em-' brace the ladder frames 4 and 5 when the ladder is folded, best illustrated in Figure 2. This is an important feature of my invention providing a portable device requiring a minimum of space.

I have found that in using A-frame ladders for scaffolding and the like, that it is most desirable 7 whole assembly tightly together so that friction developed between the membe 6 and 13 will hold the frames of the ladder in desired fixed position, requiring no other means of holding the ladder in open or closed position.

In Figure 6 I show a modified form of construction, wherein an additional bracing member 23 is secured to the top 9 by the angle 24 and bolts 25.

The member 23 is fixedly secured to the ladder 1. A step ladder, comprising main and bracing frames, each including uprights, one having steps,

a hinge-forming element secured to the uprights of the main frame, a cooperating hinge element carried by the uprights of the bracing frame, a.

at l8 and the members 5 at l9, as well as the hollow spacing member bridging the uprights of the main frame, extending through such uprights and bearing squarely against the hinge element of such main frame, and a hinge rod extending through the spacing member,v uprights of both frames and. the hinge elements of the latter, and 5 means for securing the hinge rod.

2. A step ladder, comprising main and bracing frames, each including uprights, one having steps, a hinge-forming element secured to the uprights of the main frame,' :a-c0operating hinge-element 1-10 carried by*"-.'the -'uprightstof the bracingrframeaai hollow spacing member bridging the uprights of the main frame, extending through such uprights and bearing squarely against the hinge element of such main frame, said spacing member provid-i ing bracing means between the uprightsrofrbothe.

frames having contact bearing between the hinge-' forming elements of the mainlframeuprightsi:

3. A step ladder, comprising main andvbracing,

frames, each including uprights, one having steps, 20

a hinger-forming element-secured to the ruprightsaofsthermain framemazcooperatin hinga'element. caflriedfbyi the uprights; of: the bra'cing ..,frame,- ,azi hollowrspacing. member ibridgingrthesuprights ;ofr-r 'the-maimframe;:extending throughsuch upri'ghtsx I andwkbearing jsquarely :againstthe hinge'relementn ofesuchnmain frame; said:spacingemember;v pro.-= vidi-ng bracingmeans between the uprightsof both frames'having-contactlbearing-between=thehinge forming=elements ofithe mainrframeuprights; and

-,en ds i squarely againstrtherhinge "sections-refit means whereby such contact may be tightened to insure rigidity of support at the pivot line.

4. A step ladder, comprising main and bracing frames, each including uprights, one having steps, a hinge-forming element secured to the uprights of the main frame, a cooperating hinge element carried by'the uprights of the bracing frame, a hollow spacing member bridging the uprights of the main frame, extending through such uprights and .bearinguv squarely against: the 'hinge element of su'ch main frame, and Jaihin'gearod fixt'ending through 'the spacing member uprights of both frames and the hinge elements of the latter, and means for securing the hinge rod, and cooperating means on the hinge elements of each frame to main frame, said brace member bridgingandaext-ie. tending :through the :uprights iof ifthe mainrfram'e, an'daend V :-.tightening :means :on thGEpiYOt-i'iI'OdJtO J5 maintaimthe bracingzefiectzoff the .brace'membe 1 O'I'I'O J. BRANDELw

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